[November 15, 2005]

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¨ù                 that there is a plan to split the 9^th Circuit Federal Court into two different courts?

¨ù                 that while the House voted last year to split the 9^th Circuit, the Senate blocked a similar bill?

¨ù                 that with the Senate, it seems that, historically,  the key stumbling block to splitting the circuit court is a cause championed by conservatives worried that California tilted the nine-state court too far to the left?

¨ù                 that the latest move is seen as a headlong charge towards breaking up the court?

¨ù                 that the new provision would break Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Arizona away from the 9^th?

¨ù                 that U. S. citizens residents in Canada may now submit a Form I-`30 on behalf of their spouse, minor child, or parent directly with the U.S. Consulate having jurisdiction over their place of residence?

¨ù                 that petitions filed in this manner will be forwarded to the U.S. Consulate in Montreal for processing?

¨ù                 That this will be much faster than the traditional method since the form I-130 does not need to be approved by USCIS?

¨ù                 that the U.S. Consulate in Montreal will be dealing with the applicant, avoiding any additional NVC delays?

¨ù                 that all other form I-130 filings (brother, sister, adult son, adult daughter) filed by U.S. citizens resident in Canada should be sent to the Vermont Service Center?

¨ù                 that individuals should turn in I-94s upon departure from the U.S. because failure to do so may result in the appearance of an overstay (although there may be other ways to conform departure)?

¨ù                 that individuals who have left the U.S. with single-entry I-94 should send the original I-94 along with other proof of having departed (such as boarding pass, credit card payments made outside the U .S., etc.) to the following address:  ACS, Inc., 1084 S. Laurel Road, London, Kentucky 40744?

¨ù                 that The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has recently made available on its website procedures by which an individual may distinguish his or her name from a similar name on a Watch List?

¨ù                 that the Passenger Identity Verification Form (PIVF) is available at http://www.tsa.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/PIV_Form.pdf?

¨ù                 that previously, individuals were required to contact TSA or the Ombudsman's office to obtain the clearance form?

¨ù                 that an explanation of TSA's clearance procedures also is available on its website at http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1829.xml?

¨ù                 that the clearance procedures apply only to persons affected by the Watch Lists and minor children?

¨ù                 that submission of the PIVF does not actually remove a name from the Watch Lists. Instead this process places the names and identifying information of individuals in a cleared portion of the Watch Lists?

¨ù                 that the information also is transmitted to the airlines?

¨ù                 that if you enter the U.S. from one of the land borders in Arizona, New York or Washington State, you will be enrolled in a new Homeland Security Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) pilot program at the land ports of Nogales East, Nogales West in Arizona, Alexandria Bay (Thousand Islands) in New York, and Pacific Highway and Peace Arch in Washington State?

¨ù                 that in other words: the form I-94 you receive upon entry at one of these ports will be embedded with an RFID chip that can be read from a distance of 30 feet?

¨ù                 that an RFID reader will reveal a number tied to your file at the Department of Homeland Security and your entry and departure at the U.S. (assuming you also leave from one of these ports) will be tracked electronically?

¨ù                 that at the same time, the government is trying to offer explanations that rights of privacy will be maintained?

¨ù                 that the government is working on a new test for applications for U.S. citizenship?

¨ù                 that so many issues arise such as: can any test truly gauge the loyalty and patriotism of new US citizens?  Is it more important for prospective citizens to know who the Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court is, or (as we have seen among the thousand of foreign-born US troops in Iraq) to be wiling to serve and die for their new homeland? 

¨ù                 that tests can only measure knowledge or skills, but they cannot measure emotional attachment and commitment to one¡¯s country?

¨ù                 that despite the common criticism of the current test as not ¡°meaningful¡±, citizenship always has been meaningful for immigrants - and no testing changes can give that meaning to our new citizens, or take it away?

¨ù                 that any redesign process should be viewed as an opportunity to be more inclusive, not as a way to exclude new and/or different groups of people from U.S. citizenship?

¨ù                 that the redesign process should also reach out to those immigrants who are eligible but who have not yet applied for naturalization?

¨ù                 that the renewed study guide must be written at a basic level of English to ensure it is accessible to applicants?

¨ù                 that it should contain materials emphasizing the economic, social and civic contributions of immigrants to the United States?

¨ù                 that it should include the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship, including specific information about opportunities for civic participation?

¨ù                 that it must available in Braille, large print, and on audiotape for applicants with disabilities?

¨ù                 that at a deferred inspection, an applicant for admission is not entitled to representation because legally, he is  not yet in the U.S.?

¨ù                 that an attorney may be allowed to be present upon request if the supervising officer on duty deems it appropriate?

¨ù                 that the role of the attorney in such a situation is limited to that of observer?

¨ù                 that if an I-94 is not collected upon departure from the U.S., the nonimmigrant can submit evidence of timely departure in another way if necessary like: admission stamp from other countries and copies of departure tickets from the U.S?

¨ù                 that you can complain if an officer at an immigration hearing misconducts?

¨ù                 that if an individual believes that an officer is not acting professionally, the individual may request to speak to a supervisor?

¨ù                 that in addition, there are comment cards available upon arrial to report misconduct by an officer?

¨ù                 that immigration will investigate such allegations of misconduct and if substantiated, will discipline accordingly?

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